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Non-verbal teen Dekarion Butler found safe after being reported missing in Phoenix

Posted at 8:30 AM, Dec 27, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-27 14:43:55-05

PHOENIX — Police say a non-verbal autistic teenager who was reported missing Thursday morning in Phoenix has been found safe.

Dekarion Butler was reported missing from the area of 34th and Campbell avenues, after he was last seen on foot Wednesday evening around 7 p.m.

According to Phoenix police, the 17-year-old was located by Glendale officers around 11:30 a.m. Thursday at a Burger King near 51st and Olive avenues.

An anonymous citizen reported seeing Dekarion across the street about an hour earlier, but he was not located during that call. He later ended up at the Burger King, where employees noticed him spending time in the bathroom and called 911.

Phoenix police say the same officer who responded to the previous call put the pieces together and realized it was the missing teen.

Glendale officers got Dekarion a burger and his mother was called to pick him up.